Helen Crofts finished off her collegiate career at Simon Fraser University like a champion.
The Clan senior added an NCAA Division II national outdoor track and field title to her mantle following a win in the women's 800 metres at the championships in Pueblo, Colorado on Saturday.
Crofts took an early lead and held off the competition to win by more than a second in the metric half-mile run in a track record time of 2:08.18.
Crofts' time was more than five seconds off the championship record of set by Teena Colebrook of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1990 and well off the collegiate record of 1:59.11 set by Wisconsin's Suzy Hamilton in the same year.
"It wasn't quite as hot or as windy as it was on Friday, so we were confident going in," said Crofts in a school press release. "I was able to get out to an early lead. It wasn't a really fast place and the competition was close throughout. I was just able to pull away at the end."
Crofts finished more than a second ahead of runner-up Jaylen Rogers of Angelo State.
Earlier in 2013, Crofts also won the NCAA Div. II national indoor 800m title.
SFU also garnered all 18 of its women's team points in the middle distance race.
Lindsey Butterworth finished just off the podium in fourth place in a time of 2:10.03, while Sarah Sawatzky was sixth-place time was 2:10.87. All three runners earned All-American status for their performances.
Butterworth and Sawatzky, both juniors, will return to the Clan program next year.
SFU's 4x400m relay team of Crofts, Sawtzky, Michaela Kane and Chantel Desch finished in sixth place in the prelimaries and did not qualify for the final.
Discus thrower Jade Richardson also missed earning a team points, placing ninth with a throw of 45.26 metres in the women's event.
"The altitude made this competition tough because we have never competed in these conditions, so I'm happy with the results," said Clan head coach Britt Townsend in the release. "I think we've proven we can compete at this level."
For Crofts, it was a fitting finale to a fine track career.
On top of her two NCAA titles in the 800m, Crofts also won two earlier Great Northwest conference titles in the 400 and 1,500m. She is also a former National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics champion and is the current record holder in the 800m.
"This was a great way to finish my Clan career," Crofts added. "Winning this title was the goal at the beginning of the season. I think as a group, we showed how strong we are, having three girls in the final."
